JICA Chief Reaffirms Long-Term Support for Bangladesh

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr Tanaka Akihiko has concluded a five-day official visit to Bangladesh, reaffirming Japan's long-standing partnership with the country and JICA's commitment to supporting sustainable, inclusive and resilient development.

During his July 1–5 visit, Dr Tanaka attended the 10th memorial ceremony for the seven Japanese nationals killed in the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery terrorist attack, paying tribute to the victims and reaffirming the shared commitment of Bangladesh and Japan to peace, resilience and cooperation.

He also held high-level talks with Chief Adviser Tarique Rahman, where both sides reaffirmed the strength of bilateral relations and reviewed ongoing and future development cooperation.

According to JICA, the discussions focused on key Japanese-supported infrastructure projects, including the Dhaka Metro Rail, the expansion of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative (MIDI) and the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone (BSEZ).

The two sides also highlighted Japan's emergency support package worth JPY 50 billion under the POWERR Asia initiative to strengthen regional energy security.

During the visit, Dr Tanaka met several senior government leaders, including Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, and Roads, Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam.

The meetings reaffirmed shared priorities in infrastructure development, industrial growth, capacity building and regional connectivity.

Dr Tanaka also visited several JICA-funded projects across Bangladesh.

He toured Terminal 3 of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, a flagship infrastructure project financed through JICA's concessional loans, which is expected to enhance passenger services while boosting trade, tourism and investment after becoming operational.

In Matarbari, he inspected major components of the Moheshkhali-Matarbari Integrated Infrastructure Development Initiative, including the power plant and deep seaport, which are expected to strengthen Bangladesh's energy security and trade connectivity while supporting broader regional economic integration.

During a visit to Cox's Bazar, Dr Tanaka observed humanitarian activities in the Rohingya refugee camps, visiting facilities operated by the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), alongside JICA-supported livelihood projects. He also met the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC) to discuss the humanitarian situation and ongoing assistance.

He later visited the under-construction Fish Landing Centre and the Fisheries Livelihood Enhancement Project, where JICA is supporting improved seafood processing, alternative income-generating activities and nutrition awareness programmes for coastal communities.

On the final day of his visit, Dr Tanaka toured a JICA-backed solid waste management initiative in Dhaka, where he observed the introduction of the Japanese J-Drum technology for Dhaka North City Corporation, highlighting JICA's continued support for urban development and environmental management.

Concluding his visit, Dr Tanaka reaffirmed JICA's long-term commitment to Bangladesh's development.

"Our partnership with Bangladesh is very strong. We look forward to continuing this cooperation in the years ahead," he said.